Last year, Bombardier completed the sale of a 30 per cent stake in its transportation business to Quebec pension fund manager Caisse de depot for US$1.5 billion as it faced financial challenges caused in part by railway delays and the development of the CSeries commercial aircraft and Global 7000 business jet.

Analyst Chris Murray of AltaCorp Capital says it’s not surprising that the two railway manufacturers would be talking about creating a European powerhouse that could compete with China Railway Rolling Stock Corp., a company that formed after the merger of two Chinese state-owned rail firms.

He said Bombardier is also likely talking to other industry players but doesn’t believe any transaction would be done on a hostile basis.

When the Caisse struck its deal in late 2015, Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare said it would continue to look at potential strategic options to participate in the rail industry’s consolidation.

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Neither Montreal’s transit authority nor unions representing bus and subway drivers wanted to comment Thursday on speculation that women wearing the Islamic niqab or burqa will be prevented from using public transportation.